Method and apparatus for molding rubber goods.



G. H. LEWIS, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MDLDNG l-EERGOODS.`

' APPLwATmN mw Aue.24,19a.

L, Patented Jan. 29,1918.

ATTORNEYS.

fabric layers 14C, with successive convolutions substantially contiguous. sure applied as described results in `iorcing the rubber into the recesses 12, and the thickness of the strip of rubber is so chosen that, when pressure is applied to it, the recesses 11 will be illed slightly above the 4dividing Walls 12 and 13. lt will thus be obvious that the sheet of rubberl is heavily Ascored only on its under face, and the several sections-indicated by the score lines are still held together by thin tins oi' rubber forming with the sections a flat back tor the sheet. The drum lO is then removed to a vulcanizer, and the rubber is vulcanized While still held confined to the molds by the same pressure applying means.

After vulcanization the pressure windings 15 and 14 are removed and thereafter the vulcanized molded articles are also removed from the drum. rthe removal of the molded varticles is facilitated by the arrangement whereby theyrare held together still in sheet form, although heavily scored. Thus, the vulcanized sheet of rubber may be slit diagonally across the face of the drum. along the line of one of the dividing' Walls i 13 and thereafter the articles may be stripped as a sheet from the molds on the drum. .lhe molded articles are held together for a usciiul purpose, namely, to permit a sheet oi` tacky rubber, technically known as bareback to be applied conveniently to the unscored i'ace of the sheet. Thereafter, a suitable protecting fabric c, as glazed or sized holland is applied over the layer o. The three superposedlayers '11, c, and f are then subdivided along the heavily scored division lines which results in a plurality of substantially dat diamond shaped articles, each having on one side heavily chamfered edges g, as shown in Fig. 6. The articles thus produced are particularly advantageous as repair patches for pneumatic tires. Thus, the holland ,t may be readily stripped f rom the tacky rubber layer c and, when the latter is washed with gasolene, the layer c becomes very sticky and forms an effective cementing medium to hold the patch er of vulcanized rubber to the inner tube.

The illustrated 'form of the apparatus is advantageous in that the drum readily lends itseltto the provision of a large number of Y mold recesses of the desired conformation and in that the sheet of raw rubber and pressure windings may be most conveniently and expeditiously applied. The apparatus ot the type disclosed is also advantageous in that it is adapted to enter a vulcanizing apparatus, whereby the uncured molded rubber may be vulcanized while held by thev pressure windings.

The method is ii'nportant :is producing with :i minimum ol lamer and limo a large The pres-,

number of articles of the desired shape.

The sheet of raw rubber, the layers of abrlc and the binding Wire may all-be conveniently and expeditiously applied, since the drum 10 may be rotated to aid in these operations. 'lhe method is characterized particularly in that the sheet of rubber is heavily scored to indicate the line of and facilitate the subsequent .subdivision of the sheet into articles and to produce the desired ehamfer on the edges of the latter. By scoring the sheet Without severing it, the articles are held together into sheet form so that they may be rapidly and conveniently removed from the molds and so the subsequent layers c and 1 may be Aexpeditiously ap-A plied. rThe scoring is so deep that the actual severing operation of the three layers is readily accomplished and the score lines form guides to aid in ther severing operation.

The invention has been disclosed in y a form at present preferred for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is more properly defined by the appended claims .rather than by the foregoing de scription.

What I claim is- 1. A method of simultaneously molding a plurality of rubber articles which consists in applying a layer of uncured rubber to the`periphery or face or' a drum covered with a plurality oit shallow molds which are slightly less in depth than the thickness oi' said layer, in applying pressure windings of fabric, Wire and. the like against the rubber layer to force it into the molds and thereby heavily score the under'iaoe of the layer and mark it oli' in its entirety into a plurality of articles, and in vuleanizingthe uncured rubber While so held to the drum.`

2. A. method of molding rubber goods, which consists in applying a layer of uneured rubber to the periphery or tace of a drum covered with shallow molds which are slightly less in depth than the thickness oi. said layer, in applying pressure Windings of fabric, Wire and the like againstthe rubber layer to torce it into the molds and thereby heavily score the under face of the layer, in vulcanizing the uncured rubber While so held to the drum, and in dividing ico the cured sheet oi. rubber along the scored lines.

3. A method of molding rubber goods, which' consists in applying va layer o"un- Vcured rubber to the periphery or face of a drum covered with shallou1 molds which are slightly less in depth than the thickness of said layer, in applying pressure windings of fabric wire and the like against the rubber layer to force it into the molds and thdreby heavily score the under face of the lay r, in vulcanizing the uncurcd rubber While so held to the drum7 in removing the pressure iilindings, and in applying a layer oiv tacky rubber tothe unseored face of the vulcanized sheet, all for the purpose described. v

4f. A method of molding rubber goods, which consists in applying a layerof uncu-red rubber to the periphery or face of a drum covered with shallow molds which are slightly less in depth than the thickness of said layer, in applying pressure windings of fabric, wire and the like against the rubber layer to force it into the molds and thereby heavily score the under face of the layer, in vuloanizing the uneured-rubber yvhile so held to the drum, in removing the pressure windings, inapplying a layer of ta'oky rubber to the unseore'd face of the vulcanized sheet, in r then applying a protecting layer of fabric over the tacky rubber, and in thereafter'dr riding the three superposed layers along lthe scored lines'of the first layer, all for the purpose desoribed. v c y 5. A method ofsimultaneously.molding a plurality of rubber ar'ti'cles`whioh consists in slipping an endless band of uncured rubber over t periphery 0r face of a drum .covered with a plurality of shallow molds which are slightly less in depth than the thickness of said band, in applying pressure windin s of fabrie,`wire and the like against the ru ber to force it into the molds and'thereby heavily soore its under face and niark it ofi" inits entirety into a plurality of' articles, and in vulcanizing the unoured rubber while so held tothe drum. Y

6. Apparatus for molding rubber goods,

comprising, a drum, two intersecting series oi" upstanding dividing walls on 'the periph eral fare of the drum to forni shall-ow molds, and means 'to hold the drum for rotation, whereby a sheet of rubber may belaid over the faee of 'the drum and pressure windings may be applied oi/erl said sheet to force it into the shallow molds, said drum being oon- -ings thereon. i

structed to enter Vulcanizing apparatus,

together with the rubber and pressure wind infrs thereon.

Apparatus for 'molding rubber goods,

comprising, a drum, wedgeshaped dividingv walls on the peripheral face of the drum to form' shallow molds, and means tov hold the" "drum for rotation, whereby a sheet of rubberY l may be laid over-the face ofthe drinn andr pressure windings 'may be applied over said .sheet tovforce it into the shallow molds, said ldrum being constructed to enter a vulcanizgoods,

comprising', a drum, parallel circumferential dividing walls on said drum, parallel cross' walls on said drum and arranged at 'an angle to the drums axis, whereby a plurality of shallow molds are'forme'd, and means to hold the .drum for. rotation, whereby a sheet of rubber may be laid over the face of the drum and pressure windings may be applied over said sheet to force it into the shallow molds,

saiddrumbeingoonstructed to entera vul- Canizing apparatus, together with the rubber and pressure windings thereon.

9. rrpparatus` for molding rubber goods, comprising, a walls 'on the. peripheral face of the drum to form shallow molds, the diameter of the drum being sol proportioned with relation to eachrnold that eaoh mold is substantially fiat, and means to hold the drum for rota-- tion,y whereby a sheet of rubber may' be laid over the face of the drum and pressure windings may be applied oversaid .sheet to force il into the shallow molds, said drum being eonstruoted'to enter avulcanizing apparatus together with the rubber and pressure windesoneri H. Lewis.

drum,4 lup'standing dividing 

